Switch.



W. D. WRIGHT & J. T. FINN.

SWITCH.

APPLIOATION FILED SEPT.4,1912.

Patented Sept. 2, 1913.

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COLUMBIA PLANOGRAPII (0.. WASHINGTON. I). c.

W. D. WRIGHT & J. T. FINN.

SWITCH.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT.4,1912.

1 72,409 Patented Sept. 2, 1913.

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COLUMBIA PLANOGRMH cu. WASHINGTON. n. c

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

WILLIAM D. WRIGHT AND JOSEPH T. FINN, 0F ALBION, NEW YORK; SAID FINNASSIGNOB OF ONE-FOURTH OF THE RIGHT TO THOMAS J. SWEET, 0F ALBION,

NEW YORK.

SWITCH.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Sept. 2, 1913.

Application filed September 4, 1912. Serial No. 718,589.

To aZZ whom it may concern Be it known that we, \ViLLIAM D. \Vnlorrr andJosnrrr T. FINN, citizens of the United States, residing at Albion, inthe county of Orleans and State of New York, have in.

vented new and useful Improvements in Switches, of which the followingis a specification.

This invention relates to improvements in switches, for conveyerapparatus such as used in factories, slaughter houses and other placesand embodying overhead track rails and cars which operate thereon tocarry articles from one point to another, the object of the inventionbeing to provide car operated switch throwing mechanism connected to theswitch at the point where a side track connects with a main track andadapted to be operated automatically by a car approaching an open switchon the main track so as to automatically set the switch and, hence,prevent the car from dropping through the open point in the main track,the invention consisting in the construction, combination andarrangen'lent of devices hereinafter described and claimed.

In the accompanying drawing :Figure 1 is a side elevation of a portionof the overhead track of a conveyer apparatus of the class indicated,provided with our improved automatically operated switch controllingmechanism. Fig. 2 is a horizontal sectional view of the same on theplane indicated by the line (b-(& of Fig. 1, showing the main track anda side track and also a switch in plan, the switch being in the positionto open the main track and to close the side track. Fig. 3 is a similarView, showing the switch in position to close the main track in advanceof an approaching ear and in the act of being closed thereby. Fig. 4: isa vertical transverse sectional view on the plane indicated by the lineb?) of Fig. 1. Fig. 5 is a detail transverse sectional view on the planeindicated by the line cc of Fig. 1.

For the purposes of this specification, an overhead beam is indicated at1 and a main track at 2 and side track 3 are also indicated, suspendedfrom and below the beam by means of hangers 4. There is an opening 5 inthe main track at the point of intersection by the side track. At thispoint is located a switch 6, which for the purposes of thisspecification is shown as of the form described in. Letters-Patent ofthe United States, N 0. 571,607, granted to P. F. Ver: ner, Nov. 17,1896, and comprising essentially an element 6 mounted for verticalangular movement to close or open the main track, and an element 6mounted for horizontal angular movement to close or open the side track.The element (3 is directly actuated by the element 6 and has an open"ing 6 for engagement by a cam arm 6. Said element (3 also has anoperating lever 6 on its rear side. lVhen the element 6 is movedoutwardly by the cam arm 6 and the element (3 is raised, as shown inFigs. 1, 9' and 5, the main track is open and the side track is closed.When, however, the element 6* is drawn back by the arm 6 and the element6 is lowered as indicated in Fig. 3, and also in dotted lines in Fig. 5,the side track is open and the main track is closed.

In accordance with our invention, we provide a car operated lever 7which is pivotally mounted as at 8, at a point intermediate its ends, onthe under side of a block or bracket 9 which is secured to and dependsfrom the beam 1 at a point near the intersection of the side track andspaced from the opening 5 of the main track. An operating element hereshown as a chain 10 is connected to the outer end of the lever 7 and isalso connected to the switch 6* and passes over the direction pulley 11.A chain 15 is connected to and hangs from the lever (3 to keep theelement (5 normally raised so that the main track is open and the sidetrack is closed. A spring 12 is connected to the lever 7 and serves tonormally hold said lever in position at right angles to and extendingacross and above the main track at a point near the opening 5, as shownin Figs. 1, 2 and 1. \Vhen a car, such as indicated at 13, operating onthe main track approaches the switch and the latter is set for the sidetrack, the car is caused to strike the inner end of the lever 7 and toturn the latter a suflicient distance to cause the element 10 to closethe switch so that the element 6 thereof forms a bridge over the opening5 in the main track and thus prevents the car from dropping through saidopening.

While we have herein shown and described a preferred form of theinvention, we would have it understood that changes may be made in theform, proportion and construction of the several parts without departingfrom the spirit of the invention and within the scope of the appendedclaims.

We claim:

1. In combination with a main track, a side track and a switch, acaroperated lever connected to the switch, pivotally mounted at a pointhigher than and spaced from one side of the track and yieldable means tonormally hold the lever, at an angle to and across and above the maintrack for operation by acar as the latter approaches a switch. r

2. In conveying apparatus of the class de scribed, the combination of anoverhead main track and side track, a switch for alinement with eitherthe main or side track, a car operated lever connected to the switch,pivo-tally mounted at a point higher than and spaced from one side ofthe track and a spring attached to the lever at a point eccentric to thepivot thereof and acting on the lever to normally hold the latter at anangle to and across and above the main track for operation by a car toclose the switch as the car approaches the switch.

In testimony whereof we afliX our signatures in presence of twowitnesses.

WILLIAM D. WRIGHT.

- JOSEPH T. FINN. Witnesses:

VILLIAM Gr. TAYLOR, HARRY'E. COEBURN.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressingthe Commissioner of Patents. a Washington, D. G."

